Please find below my writing for this week’s women’s ministry newsletter at Riverbend Church, from Monday March 30.
This past week, houses in our community brightened daily quarantine walks by placing stuffed bears in their windows so that families could “go on a bear hunt.” The idea began elsewhere but was quickly circulated on social media and eagerly adopted in my neighborhood.
It’s easy to see why. Like so many other parents sheltering in place, I am tasked with infusing my children’s days with structure and purpose, and giving them outlets to create, exercise, and “socialize.” I am suddenly the all-day tutor, counselor, and Sunday School leader—mom, in the truest sense—while simultaneously feeling like a little girl who desperately wants her own mom nearby to reassure her during this time of uncertainty. I’ve quickly discovered that the thirty-minute daily task labeled “walk the dog, aka go on a bear hunt” does as much for my own soul as it does for that of my kids.
On Monday’s walk, my family spied one large bear propped behind a window along our route, and we considered our “bear hunt” a total success. But by the end of the week, the count on our loop was up to ten bears: each one a different size or shape, nestled into windows here and there, uniting one house to another in this whimsical activity for kids. And every day for at least part of our journey, my fierce tribe of five couldn’t help but sing out the familiar lines from Michael Rosen’s beloved We’re Going On A Bear Hunt: “We’re going on a bear hunt, we’re gonna catch a big one. What a beautiful day! We’re not scared…”
I’ve been struck by how much this simple little tale speaks to the world right now. In the book, the family sets out on their adventure only to encounter a series of obstacles: tall grass, a cold river, mud, forest, snowstorm, and cave. Each time, they declare: “We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it. Oh no! We’ve got to go through it!” In the same way, we cannot “go over” or “go under” sheltering-in-place; we simply have to go through it. By its very nature, it will take time and be uncomfortable.
In life we are guaranteed unavoidable trials, but Jesus promises:
“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world” (John 16:33).
In other words, the toughest Dad of them all—Savior, Creator, and Friend—is going with us through whatever challenge we face along the way.
All week as my kids spotted bears in windows, I was counting the astonishing number of people—my neighbors—whose big hearts led them to add a little light as my family made our way through these dark times. In each participating window, I spied Jesus conquering the world.
Until next week, enjoy the hunt.